Arise Work From Home Review – Scam Or Legit? (Honest Look!)
Did you know that almost 13% of workers currently work from home? And this number is expected to more than double by the year 2025.
The reality is that working from home is more popular than ever. This is where companies like Arise, a customer service outsourcing platform, try to fit in.
This company says you can make money as a remote customer service assistant and earn on your own schedule. But is Arise legit or a total money grab?
Our Arise review is covering exactly how this platform works, its pros and cons, and everything you need to know.
What Does Arise Work From Home Offer?
Arise Work From Home is a remote work platform that helps people make money as customer service assistants. The company began in 1994 and helps its agents earn money online by working with a variety of its clients.
According to Arise, it's a flexible, easy way to begin working as your own boss. In fact, the company brands its opportunity as a “micro call center business opportunity.”
The idea behind Arise is that it handles everything for you, from training you to setting you up with the software you need to run a call center business. From there, you can make money on your own schedule and as an independent contractor. And Arise says it works with major companies to help you find your first clients.
On paper, Arise seems like a great way to earn money online as a beginner. However, the platform also has a range of requirements and startup costs if you pursue this opportunity.
How Does Arise Work?
Think of Arise as a temp agency for the digital age. Its goal is to help people establish profitable call center gigs where they work as an independent contractor on their own schedule.
This is its promise on paper, at the very least. But it's a bit more complicated. For starters, Arise requires that you incorporate a business before you find clients, so you can't just make money as a freelancer.
Here's how Arise works from start to finish:
- Create your Arise profile
- Sign an NDA
- Submit your company's information (after you incorporate)
- Find available clients through Arise's platform
- Complete client certification and training (this costs money)
- Sign a statement of work contract when you're done training to begin working
As you can see, there are several steps that cost money before you can make money with Arise. And again, this isn't like landing an online job since you have to incorporate and run your own business.
The work itself is all remote customer service work. But again, you have to pay to incorporate, pay for training, and even set up a home office at your own expense. And then there's all the unpaid training before you can begin working with clients.
How Much Does Arise Cost?
The Arise platform charges contractors several startup fees, including a background check. You also have to pay to set up your own LLC, which is a massive headache. Plus, Arise expects you to have a work-from-home setup that will cost even more if you don't currently have a home office.
Overall, you're likely spending $500 to $750 or even more to sign up for Arise. Here are some of the main costs you can expect if you sign up:
- Business Incorporation: $100 to $350.
- Phone Line: $75.
- USB Headset With Microphone: $35 to $100.
- Initial Client Certification Courses: Free.
- Background Check: $30.
Additionally, Arise charges a $19.75 platform usage fee twice per month. And you can also pay additional fees if you take extra training courses, and there's even a $20 no-show fee if you miss the free training.
The bottom line is that Arise might cost $1,000 or even more, and this is before you start making money. If you want to make money online without spending anything, this isn't the platform for you.
How Much Does Arise Pay?
Most Arise positions pay somewhere between $10 and $16 per hour which is at the low-to-average range for customer service positions. Workers who work during peak times or overnight may be compensated more.
Note that you're only paid for the amount of time that you're actively online or on the phone and interacting with your client’s customers. So even if you are standing by and available to work, you only get paid for the time you're calling. This can mean you may only be paid for a few minutes or a few hours of a much longer shift.
Being a customer service agent is an immensely popular phone job. But Arise's pay structure isn't the most stable, especially since you aren't guaranteed clients either.
As for how you're paid, Arise pays via PayPal or bank transfer. I like that it pays real cash, but this isn't the highest-paying online opportunity.
Arise Platform Requirements
When I started to take a closer look at this platform for this Arise review, I admit, I was overwhelmed with the requirements. This side hustle has some of the most requirements I’ve seen and these costs can add up rather quickly.
Taking a look at the Arise website initially, things are rather vague and don’t look that intense. It says that you need a computer, a USB headset, high speed internet and a keypad / headset phone to start.
However, when you dive in and see the detailed equipment requirements for Arise, it’s a lot more complex. A dedicated landline phone line and much more is required. Costs for this equipment and tech varies, but it is important to know what these expenses are before you make the investment.
Additional Arise requirements include:
- Taking and passing a voice assessment
- Have a valid and active phone number to complete verification and registration
- Passing a background check (which you pay for)
- Set up a Limited Liability Company (LLC) at your own expense
- Setting up and maintain a separate business bank account
- Have a dedicated business phone line (in addition to equipment mentioned above)
- Having high-speed internet
- Complete training programs that do not compensate you for your time and may have expenses involved
- Have a quiet workplace with no distractions
You also need a computer with at least 4GB of RAM. Plus, Arise doesn't support macOS and requires Windows 10 or higher, which might mean your home computer isn't eligible.
Is Arise Legit?
Arise is a legit work from home opportunity that helps people make money as customer service agents. However, the platform has so many startup and ongoing fees that it's a bit of a money grab. Plus, hourly pay isn't amazing, and you might not even find clients with the platform.
The fact you might spend $750 or even more setting up your business and home office before being eligible to work is a red flag. Plus, Arise has strict tech requirements that can result in even more expenses.
When you consider how many legit work from home jobs provide equipment or equipment stipends, it's clear Arise isn't the best option out there.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Provides access to a large number of open positions
- Can be a way for new remote workers to find customer service jobs
Cons:
- Extensive start-up costs
- Equipment, internet and phone line costs can add up quickly
- Bi-monthly fee for using the platform
- You have to create an LLC to join Arise
- Most jobs pay $10 to $15 per hour which is low compared to many other positions
- Jobs are primarily customer service positions, which aren't for everyone
- You can't use a Mac computer or your phone to work
- There's two to five weeks of unpaid training certifications and courses
- Arise has poor customer service
- Workers only get paid for the time they are actively on calls, which can result in low hourly pay
- You need a quiet work space or home office
- No benefits available as an independent contractor and you are liable for all expenses
- Taxes are not taken out of pay so you're responsible for making estimated tax payments
What Do Arise Workers Say?
Arise currently has a 2.3 star rating on Trustpilot, which is poor. And if you read some Arise reviews from current and past workers, many people complain about the pay and misleading claims.
Here's what some recent reviews are saying:
- Marshall Madden says: “The proposed hourly pay for these jobs are insulting and absurd. Then on top of that you have to train for FREE. There must be really desperate or homebound people willing to do this.”
- Tonika Anderson says: “Most of the previous reviews are accurate. This place is a scam. I have been offered work at least 2-3 times with these people and something goes wrong every time.”
- Web Devs says: “Trained for a month. Overcame hurdles with the system. No hours available to service. Followed by a termination. Very disappointing. Be wary to not waste your time and energy for this type of opportunity.”
As you can see, many people are unhappy with this online side hustle. And it seems like a frustrating experience to land stable work.
Better Alternatives To Consider
Since Arise is so expensive and doesn't offer competitive pay, you're much better off finding online income opportunities elsewhere.
For starters, you can use legitimate remote job sites like FlexJobs. This site has thousands of online jobs and part-time gigs in a variety of fields, including ones for beginners. And this is also where Tom has found numerous freelance writing gigs.
Alternatively, you can look for beginner jobs on Upwork, Fiverr, or other remote job boards. This also lets you broaden your search versus just working in customer service.
Finally, using paid survey sites is one more way you can begin making money online quickly.
Who Can Sign Up For Arise?
You must be 18 or older to sign up for Arise. Additionally, you must live in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, or Jamaica at this time.
Is Arise A Scam?
Arise isn't a downright scam, and the company does pay customer service agents. However, it's quite misleading, and there are significant startup costs and strict requirements. Plus, there's a lot of unpaid training time which is also a downside.
Overall, you're better off looking for easy online jobs that pay you immediately and don't require hundreds or thousands of dollars to begin.
Is The Arise Platform Worth It?
I’ve been working at home for many years and have done a variety of tasks including freelance writing, blogging, social media management, virtual assistant work, and more.
During this time, I've encountered some challenges as an independent contractor. For example, you have to provide your own equipment. You’re also responsible for covering your own expenses and don't receive benefits or insurance. For most side hustles, taxes are also not taken out and you are responsible for calculating what you owe and making payments.
That said, there are immense benefits to being your own boss. I have a flexible schedule to accommodate my family's schedule. And many online opportunities can be very well compensated.
So, where does Arise fit into this equation, and is it worth it? Well, this is where I have concerns.
Personally, as someone who makes a full-time income online, I would never pay these costs or complete the multiple mandatory training courses free of charge just for the chance to apply for customer service type jobs.
This side hustle also doesn't pay for at least 2 to 5 weeks until you complete required training. If you need quick money, this definitely isn't the gig for you. Plus, the hourly rate is pretty poor anyways, so it's not exactly a compelling offer. And when you factor in LLC startup costs and all the other fees and requirements, the Arise platform isn't nearly as good as it seems on paper.
Would I register for the Arise Platform? No, probably not. And I hope this Arise review helps you decide if it's worth it to you.
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